Three Sheets to the Wind
by Gary F. Bell and Robert L. White
Directed by Gary F. Bell
Stray Dog Theatre
June 4, 2026
Mike Wells, Joseph Garner, Sarah Polizzi, Jeffrey M. Wright
Photo: Stray Dog Theatre
Stray Dog Theatre’s newest show is a world premiere, written by Artistic Director Gary F. Bell and his longtime writing partner Robert L. White. Three Sheets to the Wind strikes me as a bit of a throwback to 1980’s comedies like those of Larry Shue, although it still needs a bit of work, and there is more talk than action in many moments. Still, the cast is well-chosen and enthusiastic, and there are some genuine laughs to be had here, although it could benefit from some more stagings and workshops to tighten up the script. There are also a few technical issues that can make the story occasionally difficult to follow.
The story is supposed to be set in the present, although there are references made by some characters that make it seem like it’s earlier, especially since there’s a character who keeps mentioning having worked in the 60’s and 70’s, which would make her older than the character seems to be presented. Also, the structure suggests a 1980s or possibly early 90s vibe, reminiscent of a sitcom from that era. The story follows Oliver (Joseph Garner), a single gay man living in Greenwich village who is close to his neighbors, married couple Cal (Jason Meyers) and Maddie (Sarajane Clark). Cal is Irish for no apparent plot reason. After some establishing conversations, it’s made clear that Oliver needs a new roommate, and has made an arrangement with ex-boyfriend and television psychiatrist Aaron (Jeffrey M. Wright) to live there for a while and help Oliver with his financial situation. Another ex-boyfriend, Danny (Mike Wells) is also brought up, and soon Danny shows up unexpectedly with some quirky actors in tow, hoping to work on developing a musical that he and Oliver had been previously writing together. The newcomers include the diva-ish Larina (Sarah Polizzi), whose plot purpose seems to call her to be as annoying and demanding as possible. Joining her are Abe (Zack Huels) and Jake (Brady Stiff), a pair of actors who just want to get on with the rehearsals and have become increasingly tired of Larina’s antics. The situation seems to pull Oliver, Aaron, and Danny together to a degree, but there’s also an Act 2 revelation involving a character called Zolda (Liz Mischel) that again, essentially consists of a lot of talking and explaining, which is hard to understand at times since the sound quality is inconsistent in this production.
There are some good ideas here, and the general idea comes across reasonably well. There are some funny characters and moments of laughter, but the script needs some tightening and the situations need to focus more on showing than telling more often than not. There are also some characters, like Cal and Maddie, who disappear for long stretches and don’t always seem to have enough to do. The cast is enthusiastic, though, and Polizzi especially shines as the annoying, self-obsessed Larina, and Garner, Wells, and Wright have good moments together as well. Mischel does as well as possible with a surprise character at the end, and plays two other smaller roles as well, and the rest of the cast does about as well as they can with the material. There are some entertaining moments here, and the play has a good deal of potential. I think I can see where it’s trying to go, but it’s not exactly “there” yet. It’s also a good deal longer than it needs to be, and could benefit from some trimming.
Visually, the play has a fine sitcom-type set by Rob Lippert and excellent costumes by Colleen Michelson and wigs by Priscilla Case. Tyler Duenow’s lighting is excellent, and Justin Been’s sound is good for the most part, although there some acoustic issues with such a talky play being able to be understood. The pacing could use some improvement, as well, but there are some genuinely funny moments.
For the most part, Three Sheets to the Wind comes across as a promising but not all-there work in progress. There are some funny situations and characters, but there’s more talk and less action than there should be. The cast is excellent, for the most part, though, and there are plenty of laughs to be had. It’s worth seeing for its potential and effort.
Joseph Garner, Sarajane Clark, Jason Meyers
Photo: Stray Dog Theatre
Stray Dog Theatre is presenting Three Sheets to the Wind at Tower Grove Abbey until June 20, 2026
